Monticello police officers step in line By TOM RUE
MONTICELLO - Three new police officers and a well-mannered German shepherd greeted the public at an August 19 village board meeting in Monticello. Introduced by chief Michael Brennan, 45, heading a department which has been faulted for not hiring enough minorities, it was notable one of the officers is African-American and another is Latino.
Luis Feliciano, 30, with nine years at the Town of Fallsburg police, had his three-year-old patrolling narcotics dog, Kenya, at the meeting, resting by his side. Kenya receives training every six weeks in Newburgh, Feliciano said.
Kwane DelValle, 28, has four years with the Town of Walkill, while Michael Drake, 22 and the holder of a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Marist College, has been with Town of Lloyd for nine months.
Retiring detective Daniel Fero, 55, was given a certificate of appreciation by mayor James Kenny "for 34 years of devoted and dedicated service."
Responding to an inquiry, Brennan said police officer Gerard P. Dietz was assigned on August 6 to the rank of detective, meaning a $1,000 pay raise. Since the shift was not technically a promotion, Brennan explained, usual civil service rules did not apply.
Dietz was suspended without pay for five or six weeks, Brennan said, after an investigation by district attorney Stephen Lungen last year, for the beating of an African-American man named James Tomlinson. "Yes, Mr. Dietz was suspended. He served his time. He's still one of the finest officers we have. He's done a one-eighty," Brennan said. "Since the Tomlinson incident, he's done his job."
The village still faces a lawsuit stemming from the beating.
"I really don't understand how they could give Dietz that kind of responsibility, with his record of how he treated people," said Monticello human rights commissioner Jesse York. "To me, people's rights aren't worth nothing in this community."
After the suspensions Dietz and two other officers sued the village themselves, claiming a right to be represented by any lawyer they wanted. Despite assurances by former village attorney Martin Miller that he had no conflict representing them and was willing to do so, the officers privately retained lawyer Henri Shawn. Police Benevolent Association counsel Loran Shlevin then filed suit on behalf of the officers over legal fees.
Village manager George Panchyshyn said he was unsure whether that suit is still pending. Village attorney Michael Davidoff was absent from the meeting, and Kenny did not reply by press-time to phone messages left at his home.
At the meeting, trustees complied with Brennan's request to re-bid a proposal for a surveillance system to monitor the police station. Brennan described the proposed system as being "a result of" the Tomlinson beating. Claiming he's still eager to get the cameras installed, Brennan said "It's going to enhance my operation 100%!"
Bids received from three sources ranged from $25,500 to $35,000, according to village clerk Edith Schop. Brennan recommended soliciting bids anew. Specs written by NY Security of Middletown were too restrictive, Brennan said, making it hard for other firms to compete.
All locations in the police station except Brennan's office and lavatories will be taped, he said, as will the parking area. Tapes will be preserved 90 days. Brennan voiced hope the system would be in place by October.
"We can't live in the past. It's time to move forward. The whole department is moving forward," said Brennan of the rocky relations with the community over past years.
In other business, the board voted to replace a 1967 Oshkosh with a 1997 4x4 plow truck, at a cost up to $150,000. Resident Victor Gordon objected strenuously, calling the expenditure "incredible."
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